Your Sexual Health is at Risk

In the next few days, the House of Representatives will meet in Washington, D.C. to decide whether or not to pass a bill that could shut down hundreds of clinics and health centers across the country, and leave your sexual health in jeopardy.

The Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, proposed by Republican Mike Pence, would eliminate all federal funding for Planned Parenthood. So what exactly does that mean? Planned Parenthood, and eventually many other health clinics, could be forced to shut their doors. And young women would lose access to things like HIV tests, HPV and cancer screenings, affordable birth control, and prescriptions to treat STDs.

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Just how important is that federal funding? Last year, that money (which would dry up completely if the bill is passed) went towards 2.2 million Pap tests, 2.3 million breast exams, and over six million tests for STDs.

"This is very extreme," a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood told Cosmo. "And it could affect millions of young women since Planned Parenthood and clinics like it are often the only affordable option when it comes to getting the Pill or annual gyno check-ups." In fact, Planned Parenthood estimates that six in 10 women in this country use health centers similar to Planned Parenthood for care.

The bottom line is that should the bill pass, more women will experience unwanted pregnancies and contract STDs that threaten their fertility and even their lives.

The House will vote this week and if passed, it will go on to the Senate, which will vote in the next few weeks. We'll keep you updated on what happens, but in the mean time, click here to send a message to members of Congress, letting them know how you feel.

Have you ever used Planned Parenthood or a similar type of clinic? Do you think the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act should be shot down?

And by the way, is anyone else as disturbed as we are that the person who proposed this bill and claims to know what's best for women's health is a guy?

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